Update: Government Shutdown & CACFP

We have reached day 27 of the government shutdown, and according to news reports, there doesn't seem to be an end in sight.

First SNAP

This weekend, USDA FNS announced in a memo that they do not have the funds to pay the states for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It will be the responsibility of the state governments to cover the expense of these crucial benefits for some of our most vulnerable populations. In previous shutdowns, if states did cover the costs of what the federal government typically funded, the federal government reimbursed them. The administration has stated that they will not reimburse the states for anything they pay into federal benefit programs this time. 40 million people across the nation rely on these benefits to put food on the table, and this is bound to impact people in your communities - especially as you seek to provide nutritious meals through CACFP. Advocacy opportunities for SNAP. Take a look at this short video about the state of things in SNAP from Mary Beth Testa and Home Grown.

So what about CACFP?

According to a USDA memo that is not dated and focuses on the refusal to pay SNAP benefits, USDA states that Child Nutrition Programs - which explicitly states CACFP - "transferred $23 billion from its annual Section 32 tariff funds to carry out these programs during the lapse." While the memo appears to prioritize child nutrition programs, the informality, political nature, and lack of guidance of the memo have made advocates pause as we all try to understand this unprecedented political environment.

As Mary Beth Salomone Testa states in this informational video about CACFP and the shutdown, "the short and uncomfortable answer is that we don't know." She shares that we don't have any history or precedent for a shutdown such as this. The contingency plan that USDA set out only covers September and October - and while there is this memo, there are not many guarentees Watch the couple of minute video as Mary Beth explains what's happening and the unknowns. (If you know about CACFP, start where the timemark says 2:15).

We do know that the state of California received its CACFP funds to pay October claims.

Government Shutdown Information and Action Opportunities

• Federal Government Shutdown: What it Means for States and Programs. National Conference of State Legislatures

• Letter from Members of Congress to Secretary Rollins urging her to use SNAP contingency funds for November payments

• FRAC Advocacy Materials and Resources

• Layoffs eliminate afterschool program staff, other key employees at U.S. Department of Education

• Together for Head Start, Day of Action on October 29th, and webinar on the 28th about the Day of Action and other resources

• First Five Years Fund: Impact on Head Start programs and other early education information and resources to take action

• SNAP funding expiration set to hit 40 million people

• 44 National Organizations send a letter to White House urging Additional Emergency Funds for WIC

• 22 Attorneys General write letter to Secretary Rollins demanding clarity about SNAP benefits

• The Government Shutdown is Affecting Older Americans in Big Ways. AARP.

If you have more resources to share, please do, as we seek to navigate this unpredictable environment together. samantha@cacfproundtable.org. As we learn more, we'll keep you updated.